Utility tool handle

ABSTRACT

This is a utility tool handle comprising an elongate handle which is especially designed with four straight segments and three curved segments with special hand holds so that a work-person or the like can exert maximum pulling power with a first hand while exerting maximum downward pressure with a second hand.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS

This application is not related to any other presently pendingapplication of mine.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

I. FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention is in the general field of utility hand tools such asrakes, hoes, shovels, brooms, mops, and the like;

The invention is more particularly in the field of ergonomic handles forutility hand tools having elongate handles.

II. DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

For many years I have been personally engaged in such activities asjanitorial work, gardening, soil preparation, and the like. In my work Ihave used tools and implements such as rakes, hoes, shovels, brooms,mops, and the like. I am familiar with the many different types ofhandles for such items. Over a long period of time I have sought for themost ergonomic friendly handles for such implements and tools.

I co-invented the ergonomic mop handle illustrated in U.S. Pat. No.5,920,944. I have also made other ergonomically friendly tools andimplements.

There have been many developments in handles for tools and the like. Ihave studied this field carefully including commercially availableitems, product catalogs and other literature and patent data bases.

I have concluded that there is no properly applicable prior art as tothis new tool and implement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Janitorial service, gardening, soil preparation and the like are common,and necessary activities. My brother and I have previously developed aunique mop handle (U.S. Pat. No. 5,920,944 referred to above). I appliedthat mop handle to a rake and learned that the action of raking andmopping are perhaps somewhat opposite to one another.

However, on further study I determined that some of the sameconsiderations which led to the development of our basic ergonomic mopand mop handle applied to raking and the like, but involving differentapplications of stress and the like to the muscles.

Therefore, I made a careful study of the physical stresses on the bodyin such activities as gardening and the like. I also determined thatthere are considerable differences between the stresses placed on rightand left handed persons.

After considerable work on rakes of various types, I once again turnedto the ergonomic principles involved and have now developed a a utilitytool handle which works with rakes of all types and numerous otherdomestic tools. I have now finally perfected the present invention of aunique and very useful ergonomic utlity tool handle. It is now possible,as a result of my present invention, to reduce the fatigue andrepetitive motion injuries and the undue strain previously encounteredby persons involved with raking and hoeing and numerous otheractivities.

It is an object of this invention to provide a new, useful, and uniqueutility tool handle which will relieve strain and repetitive motioninjuries for persons using utility tools;

Another object of this invention is to provide such a handle which isuseful in making the use of utility tools more effective;

Another object of this invention is to provide such a utility toolhandle which can be utilized equally effectively by right or left handedpersons.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of this invention willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the descriptionof a preferred embodiment, which follows, in conjunction with a reviewof the appended drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective of a preferred embodiment of a utilitytool handle of this invention attached to a hoe; and

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective of a person using the handle and hoeof FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

An inventory of items on the drawings bearing reference numerals is:Numeral Item 10 ergonomic utility tool handle, generally 11 straightsegment of handle in phantom 12 end covering 12a finger-holds 13 curvedsegment 14 straight segment 15 curved segment 15a curved segment 16straight segment partially in phantom 17 hand grip covering 18 straightsegment 19 fasteners 20 tool attachment member 21 hoe blade 22 person 23right hand 24 left hand 25 right arm 26 right shoulder 27 left arm 28ground surface

The new utility tool handle 10 of this invention is shown in FIG. 1. Itconsists of rod or pipe specially shaped as shown and described. Iprefer a hollow cylindrical tube of aluminum although any suitableelongate member would do as will be clear to those skilled in the art.

The tube or the like is shaped as follows: an initial straight segment11 is about four inches in length. The segment 11 has a shaped covering12 having a series of finger-holds 12 a on its underside.

A curved segment 13 approximately four or five inches long extends to astraight segment 14 about six inches long which is in a plane roughlyperpendicular to segment 11.

A curved segment 15 about two inches long leads to straight segment 16which is about seven inches long, shown partly in phantom as it ispartially covered by handgrip 17 which is preferably formed of foamrubber or the like.

Curved segment 15 a (shown in phantom)is the same as curved segment 15but in the reverse direction in order to provide a transition tostraight segment 18 which is in a plane parallel to segment 14 and isfrom about 24 to 40 inches long depending upon the length of the toolattachment member 20 which can be a tube or the like which telescopesinto straight segment 18 and is held in place by fasteners 19 which arebolts or the like as will be known to those skilled in the art.

In this illustration the hoe blade 21 depends from the tool attachmentmember as shown.

FIG. 2 shows the mode of use of this invention and illustrates itsparticular advantages. A person 22 grips the upper handle covering withhis right hand 23 in such manner that he can exert maximum pulling powerthrough his right arm 25 and right shoulder 26. At the same time, theperson can exert maximum pressure downwardly by the hoe blade 21 againstthe earth 28 by essentially straight-arming through his left arm 27.

The way this utility tool handle has been designed, and with the handgrips as described a right handed person or a left handed person can usethe handle with maximum results.

By this reference I hereby incorporate the claims and abstract whichfollow within this description of a preferred embodiment the same asthough they were fully set forth at length at this point.

While the embodiment herein set forth is fully capable of achieving theobjects and advantages desired, it is to be understood that suchembodiment has been set forth for purposes of illustration only and notfor purposes of limitation.

1. A utility tool handle comprising: a first straight segment covered bya first hand grip; a first curved segment depending from said firststraight segment; a second straight segment depending from said firstcurved segment; a second curved segment depending from said secondstraight segment; a third straight segment depending from said secondcurved segment; a second hand grip carried by said third straightsegment; a third curved segment depending from said third straightsegment; a fourth straight segment depending from said third curvedsegment; and utility tool attachment means carried by said fourthstraight segment.
 2. The utility tool handle of claim 1 wherein thefirst hand grip is shaped to confrom to individual fingers.
 3. Theutility tool handle of claim 1 wherein the utility tool attachment meansincludes a telescoping relationship to the fourth straight segment.